Is Potty Training Harder For Boys?

Paul J James asked:




The basic rule of potty training is readiness. This applies to boys and girls. Potty training a boy has long been thought to be harder. The truth to that lies in the readiness of the child. Very often boys lag a little behind girls in their neurological development, therefore boys may not be as ready for potty training at the same age as their female counterparts. Again, it comes down to the readiness of the child and not to the age.

Potty Training Boys

The common thought is that boys are best potty trained by men. While that may be the ideal, it isn’t always possible and the truth is that boys are successfully potty trained by women every day. Most little boys are best potty trained by learning to do it sitting down first. If there is a problem with your boy missing the potty and wetting on the floor when he sits, try putting him on the toilet facing backwards.

It may take a little getting used to since he sees everyone sitting front ways, but he’ll soon adapt and you won’t have as many puddles to clean up. Once he learns how to direct his stream of urine into the toilet, he can sit front ways. The rest of the potty training process is just the same as it is for girls. Give plenty of encouragement, reward his successes and be patient with him.

Nighttime Potty Training for Boys

It may well take a boy a little longer than a girl to master nighttime potty training. This is, again, related to his slower neurological development. The signal from his bladder to his brain that he needs to wake and use the bathroom just doesn’t get through, so he wets his bed. Using disposable training pants will prevent nighttime sheet changes and the frustrations that go with them. Limiting fluid intake in the hours before bed will help also.

Ready To Stand

If your son watches other men use the toilet standing up, he will want to do the same. For safety’s sake, this is best left until he is tall enough to do so without needing a step stool. Most boys have learned this and are competent with it by the time they enter school.Potty training a boy has been held in urban legend as a difficult process. With a few adaptations and keeping in mind his neurological readiness, most parents agree it isn’t the nightmare it’s been made out to be.

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